Council hears proposal on disc golf

By Kevin Jenkins | April 16, 2014 |

BONNE TERRE – The Bonne Terre City Council listened Monday night as Ron Roper gave the council a detailed presentation on a proposal for disc golf to be added to the Bonne Terre City Park.

“This can generate income by selling a title sponsorship, which is naming the course after said business, and hole sponsorships, which is naming a hole after said business and is an annual fee paid by the business to the city to have a plaque with their name on it,” Roper explained. “Also, tournaments that would take place at the city park will yield revenue by charging a fee to participants. There are also many other economic benefits of a disc golf course in our local area.”

Roper gave a proposal touching every aspect of the disc golf course all the way down to the low maintenance and no cost for labor to install the course.

The council asked Roper if he would be willing to come back down to present his proposal in the same fashion to the Parks and Recreation Department. Roper agreed and Alderman Shawn Kay will make the arrangements.

Monday night’s meeting started off with Dave Bahr requesting to change the date listed on the agenda for the chamber of commerce’s annual fishing derby to May 31. The council agreed to the change of the date and gave the approval for the event.

Also during the public comments and concerns, Bonne Terre resident Andrea Richardson requested the council amend a portion of the pool ordinance.

“The section about the gate states that the gate has to swing out, not in and needs a self latch. My gate is unable to do that since there is a concrete pad, but I keep mine padlocked.” She added she has a “six foot fence around my yard and padlock on the gate in accordance to my home owners insurance, which seems safer to me than what the new ordinance states.”

Ward 4 Alderwoman Dana Plunkett questioned how they could have an ordinance that was opposite of what home owners insurance requires. After much discussion the council agreed to put the issue on next month’s agenda for further discussion and a decision on the matter.

Under new business, the council accepted the verification of the election results and swore in Ron Elders as alderman of Ward 2 and Dana Plunkett as alderwoman of Ward 4. They also appointed Shawn Kay as Mayor Pro Tem.

The group approved Bill 041401 calling for an election to be held on Aug. 5 to question whether the city shall be authorized to impose a license tax in an amount not to exceed one cent per gallon based on the gallons of motor vehicle fuel sold. The tax is to be imposed on, and paid by, businesses which sell fuel for vehicles.

They also approved a bill to transfer funds from the capital tax fund to the general fund for the purpose of replacing the pump transmission on a city fire truck.

The council also approved a liquor license for the Bonne Terre Chamber of Commerce for the 4th of July festival and a five percent beer license for St. Joseph Parish’s annual festival.